Ridiculous prof story
 

So I'm sitting here making dinner, and my roommate tells me about some play his math prof pulled today.

Math 193, the "required" math class, unless you tested out of it with calc from high school.

Apparently today, about half the class wasn't there. So in response, the professor passes around a sign-in sheet. She says that once everyone's name is on it, she will have something for all of them. Here's where it gets interesting.

She says she's going to give them all an answer to the next test. Not extra credit, mind you, but an actual test answer. The question will be worth 5 points. She is going to hang onto the list, as well, and if anybody who's name is not on there answers the question right then nobody gets it - basically, no spreading it.

The question: What is the name of my fourth son?

How effed is that? A 100 level math course with NO attendance policy, forcing students who happened to not be here on this day (5th absence or 1st), automatically taking away 5 points on a MATH test because you don't know the name of her son.

I called her out on it and said it was BS. My roommate, who skips as much class as anybody I've ever known, thinks its perfectly fine and is all of a sudden saying its the student's responsibility to be in class. He brought up the fact that we pay approx. $16 per day per class to be there. I say that's enough loss if I know the material that professor is paid to teach. He says its not.

I know its long, but any thoughts? This seems like the type of thing I'd take to the department head if I were one of the people who was absent for the first time.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

Seems fine to me. You should only skip the class if you know the material.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

[ QUOTE ]
Seems fine to me. You should only skip the class if you know the material.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's my point though.

The class is Math 193. Not "know my kid's name 101".

That woman is getting paid to teach mathematics. Her son's name has nothing to do with it, and to punish students in a class with no explicit attendance policy just seems outrageous to me, and I'm not even in the class.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

edge,
The prof is being ridiculous. Whether I make an issue of it depends entirely on whether or not I get those marks.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

$16 bucks per class per day sounds like a good deal. I think I pay $75 or something.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

[ QUOTE ]
$16 bucks per class per day sounds like a good deal. I think I pay $75 or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what you get for going someplace cool like San Diego. I think I'm on my way out west once I get my degree and have the money to leave St. Cloud...

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

If its not extra credit then I'd be pissed if I missed class and there was no attendance policy.

You go to class to learn material, and if you can learn material without class, then class is obsolete. Especially for a required class.

I mean, of course professors are sometimes gonna hint to stuff on on the exam during class, use questions on test that mirror class examples, etc. but this takes it too far.

I had a few professors that gave EC for people that came to class on St. Patrick's Day, etc. without advanced warning, and I was fine with that.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

[ QUOTE ]
If its not extra credit then I'd be pissed if I missed class and there was no attendance policy.

You go to class to learn material, and if you can learn material without class, then class is obsolete. Especially for a required class.

I mean, of course professors are sometimes gonna hint to stuff on on the exam during class, use questions on test that mirror class examples, etc. but this takes it too far.

I had a few professors that gave EC for people that came to class on St. Patrick's Day, etc. without advanced warning, and I was fine with that.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree.

I should amend my statement, as I cannot be certain as I was not in class. This is merely the way it was presented by my roommate. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks that it would be completely insane.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

What's the prof's name? Google stalk ftw? Everyone's business is on the internet these days...

That being said, if you have to guess, go with "You don't have one." Statistically, she's unlikely to have 4 sons. On the other hand, given that she's asking the question, I don't know what the probability is.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

dude tell your roommate to give it to you
if its something like rob or john it was a lucky guess

but that is crap but seriously go to class

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

[ QUOTE ]
dude tell your roommate to give it to you


[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah that'll work great. The only thing that would work better is reading the OP correctly.

BTW this is a really weak move by the professor and if 5 "points" = 5% of the test grade (not like 5 out of 1000 points or whatever amount of points the test has) this is probably worth complaining about to someone and at least try to get it changed to an extra credit question.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

You haven't answered the real question yet... is she hot?

I'm usually a staunch supporter of going to class, but if there's no attendance policy this isn't fair.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

It's complete [censored] IMO, but it's also complete [censored] you'll have to accept and deal with.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

I never made it clear enough. I'm not even in this class since I took AP calc in HS. I'm a senior getting ready to graduate in December.

This is still BS in my opinion. If it were part of the actual test, it would be 5 out of 100 points. If its Extra Credit, that's cool. The kid's name is not common, so its not like anybody will be guessing it.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

[ QUOTE ]
$16 bucks per class per day sounds like a good deal. I think I pay $75 or something.

[/ QUOTE ]


Yea seriously, I pay $111

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

Instead of the prof's child's name, it just should be a ridiculously hard problem that no one would be able to answer.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

Extra credit I wouldn't have a problem with. Making it an answer to a question on a test is [censored] stupid. This is the kinda prof who should be teaching high school.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

HIS NAME WAS EULER DUCY?

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

Obviously someone is going to get it that isn't on the list.

What is the point of her shennanigans? Why not just say "everyone not on the list is going to lose 5 points for participation today. K thanks" I would still be BS, but at least it wouldn't be some huge idiotic thing like she is making it.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

Simple Solution:

Tell somebody who missed the class the answer. Everyone in the class loses 5%, and everyone is even, and the entire excercise was irrelevant. (assuming the class is graded on a curve)

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

I skipped class like it was my job. And I would not have a problem with a prof doing this. I would also find out the answer so that her little game fails.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

What a stupid stunt. I would complain to dept head instantly even if it was EC unless she said she gives EC for attendance at the beginning of the term.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

Optimal line:

1) Have a student who wasn't "on the list" get the answer right on the test
2) Teacher gives no points even for correct answers
3) Have student who WAS "on the list" escalate to department head: "WTF I got this test question right and she won't give me credit for it"
4) Sit back and let the situation take care of itself.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

[ QUOTE ]
Optimal line:

1) Have a student who wasn't "on the list" get the answer right on the test
2) Teacher gives no points even for correct answers
3) Have student who WAS "on the list" escalate to department head: "WTF I got this test question right and she won't give me credit for it"
4) Sit back and let the situation take care of itself.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

If half of the kids don't feel the need to show up to class, it's usually more of an issue with the class or professor, rather than the students.

Re: Ridiculous prof story
 

Have only the people that weren't in class get it right, everyone else get it wrong.

Wait for her brain to explode.





Don't worry, I'm sure theres someone more anal than you that is already in a tizzy going to admin about this.